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Mt Olive Lutheran Church June Messages |
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I believe this passage is THE CANARY IN THE COAL MINE. If we lose this passage, we lose the Gospel. And that means we lose everything. CHILDREN ARE OUR MODEL because they have no claim on heaven. If they are close to God, it is because they He draws close to them; not because they make movements toward Him. If they receive His love, it can only be as because He chooses to give it. GRACE PROCLAIMS THE AWESOME TRUTH that all is gift. We have been given the power to believe where others deny, to hope where others despair, to love where others hate. This and so much more is sheer gift; it is not reward for our faithfulness, our generous disposition, or our heroic humility. IT IS NO COINCIDENCE that Luke juxtaposes the passage of Jesus and the children immediately preceding the verses on the young rich ruler. A rich young man comes to Jesus asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. He wants to do something. Children contrast with the rich man simply because there is no question of their having yet been able to do anything. The NT world was not sentimental about children and had no illusion about their innocence. Jesus point is: there is nothing that any of us can do to inherit the Kingdom. THIS PASSAGE IS DIFFICULT for people who believe we have to do something to attract Jesus’ attention and to win His favor. One man told me that this passage does not mean that babies – the word Luke uses – can enter the kingdom; rather, that we adults must become like babies – helpless and needy. This is something I find very hard to do; but which little children do quite naturally. Infants are helpless. Adults, well we have to preach long and hard to convince them that without God they are without hope. IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER the Jewish attitude toward children in 1st-century Palestine if we are to grasp Jesus’ teaching here. In NT times a child was considered of no importance, meriting little attention or favor. Children in that society had no status at all – they did not count. They were regarded with scorn. Jesus gave these scorned little ones a privileged place in the kingdom and presented them as models to would-be disciples. BABIES ARE NEGLIGIBLE creatures, not worthy of Jesus’ attention. At least that is what the disciples thought. Today, many Christian churches must feel the same way. Jesus comes for people who are small or who have been made small by the conflicts and crises of life. They had done nothing to merit salvation. PAUL TILLICH writes: “Grace strikes us when we are in great pain and restlessness. It strikes us when we walk through the dark valley of a meaningless and empty life. It strikes us when, year after year, the longed-for perfection does not appear, when the old compulsions reign within us as they have for decades, when despair destroys all joy and courage. Sometimes at that moment a wave of light breaks into our darkness, and it is as though a voice were saying: “You are accepted. You are accepted, accepted by that which is greater than you. Do not try to do anything now; perhaps later you will do much. Do not seek for anything, do not perform anything, do not intend anything. Simply accept the fact that you are accepted.’ If that happens to us, we experience grace.” MY DEEPEST AWARENESS OF MYSELF is that I am deeply loved by Jesus Christ and I have done nothing to earn it or deserve it. The Good News of the gospel of grace cries out: we are all, equally privileged but un-entitled little children at the door of God’s mercy!
“OUR HEARTS ARE RESTLESS until they find their rest in Thee, O Lord.” [Augustine] All humanity is seeking the answer to the confusion, the unrest, the fear that oppresses the world. All mankind is crying out for truth, for security, for peace. WE LIVE IN THE "AGE OF ANXIETY." Historians point out that there have been few times in all history when man has been subject to so much fear and uncertainty. We talk of peace but are confronted by war at every turn. We pursue every promise of peace. For generations we have been running like frightened children, up one blind alley and then another. ONE OF THE FIRST PATHS WE CHOSE WAS LABELED "POLITICAL FREEDOM." Give everyone political freedom, we said, and the world will become a happy peaceful place. Never in the history of the world have so many nations embraced democracy. Is the world safer, happier, more peaceful? In both the United States and Iraq, it seems that partisan politics and personal interest best express democracy. MANY PUT THEIR FAITH IN EDUCATION. It seemed a bright, well-lighted, sensible path for a long time, and we are the most informed people in the history of civilization — and yet the most confused. Our high school students know more about the physical laws of the universe than the greatest scientist in the days of Aristotle. But though our heads are crammed with knowledge, our hearts are empty and restless. THE BRIGHTEST, MOST INVITING PATH OF ALL WAS THE ONE MARKED "PROSPERITY." This path promises us happiness and contentment if we only had enough money to buy the things we wanted. We are the most prosperous people in the history of the world. Has it made us happy? Has it brought us the joy and satisfaction and the contentment in living that we were seeking? No, if anything it has created an endless list of more things we want. Ironically, the more money and stuff we have the more restless we are. THERE ARE OTHER PATHS, of course, and many are traveling them this very moment. There are the paths of fame and fortune, of pleasure and power. None of them leads anywhere but deeper into unrest. A FINAL PROOF OF OUR RESTLESSNESS IS BOREDOM. America is said to have the highest per capita boredom of any spot on earth! We know that because we have the greatest variety and greatest number of artificial amusements of any country. So that is where we stand today — a nation of restless people. We have tried to fill ourselves with science and education, with better living and pleasure, with the many other things we thought we wanted. Yet we are restless. These two texts speak of a restless wild sea and a restless wild man. Situations and circumstances may unsettle us. Or we may experience a wild restlessness from inside ourselves. THE DISCIPLES ARE DISTURBED BY THE RESTLESS SEA. Frantic, they say, “Master, we are going to drown.” They do not call Jesus Lord, simply Master. Jesus gets up, rebukes the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsides and all is calm. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him.” Who is this? If we know who Jesus is and you trust Him with all that goes on in this world out there; we will be calm.
A RESTLESS WILD DEMON-POSSESSED MAN is living out in the cemetery. He could not be contained by chains or by guards. He knows who Jesus is but wants nothing to do with Him. Jesus drives out the restless spirit and the man is found in his right mind sitting at Jesus’ feet. The people in that area asked Jesus to leave because they were overcome with fear. Because of the pigs in the story, we know these are probably not Jewish people. Fear and superstition come easily to people in the presence of the Divine. Isn’t that interesting? We too are often afraid when God is afoot in our lives. Is He an angry or capricious God who will zap our livelihood or our lives? The man wants to follow Jesus, but Jesus tells him to return home and tell everyone how much God has done for him. He goes and tells all over town how much Jesus had done for Him. This man’s restless spirit had been calmed; how could he not tell?. WE ARE EASILY DISTURBED BY SITUATIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OUT HERE. Don’t we know Jesus promised to be with us always? And if we know that, don’t we know who Jesus is? Only God commands the winds and the waves and they obey Him. Do you have the fundamental faith to believe that no matter how dangerous and difficult our world becomes, our situation is, Jesus is with us and that is all we really need. We are easily disturbed by our inner conflicts. Don’t we know that Jesus is the Son of the Most High God? Even the demons know that. But, unlike the demons, we desire Jesus’ presence for that alone calms our spirits. His love, His forgiveness, His acceptance. We need not be afraid of the Divine presence. It is an awesome presence, but He is ‘for us’. And if He is for us who or what can be against us. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory over these things through our Lord Jesus Christ. “OUR HEARTS ARE RESTLESS until they find their rest in Thee, O Lord.” [Augustine] Once we have experienced that for ourselves, we, like the man of Gerasene, will want to tell others. We live in a restless world. They need to experience a Person who brings calm to their outer situations and to their inner selves.
Luke 8:40-56 IN THE PAST I HAVE PREACHED ON THE WOMAN TOUCHING the fringe of Jesus’ garment. Amazing, even such an incidental contact with Jesus has power to alter a person’s life. AND I HAVE BEEN INTRIGUED BY JESUS’ ABILITY TO SEE BEYOND THE VEIL OF DEATH and see it differently than we do: “She is not dead but asleep.” Either one of those is sermon worthy. But today, I WANT TO PREACH ON FAITH AND HEALING. Jesus says to the woman, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” AND TO JAIRUS after he receives word his daughter is dead. “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” Faith has power to heal. To heal something as persistent as a 12 year bleeding problem. To heal something as painful as the death of a 12 year old only daughter. So what persistent or painful problem do you have that needs healing? Trust Jesus and you will be healed. DO I MEAN PHYSICAL ILLS? Yes! I cannot even tell you the number of people who have simply prayed and been healed of persistent health problems. But, please, trust Jesus. Don’t go to some yahoo faith healer who tells you that if you have enough faith, you will be healed. How much faith do you think Jairus had? Probably just a smidgeon. The text says he and his wife were astonished The word literally means beside themselves. And don’t think you need some televangelist to touch you with great force. The women only touched the fringe of Jesus’ garment. It is not the strength of your faith but the strength of the One you believe in. AND, IF YOU ARE NOT HEALED. Trust Jesus. Trust that he knows what is best for you. Trust that He has a greater healing in mind. That is more difficult than to trust Him for healing. Tim Hansel, who suffers from debilitating pain, said, “I prayed for healing and the Lord finally healed me of the need to be healed.” AND ALWAYS REMEMBER C.S. LEWIS WORDS: “God always gives us exactly what we ask for or something better.” HOWEVER, WE’VE GOT BIGGER FISH TO FRY. There are more serious persistent and painful problems in our lives. Nagging guilt. Unresolved grudges. Unrelenting greed. Perpetual slavery to self. Addiction to anything and everything that promises a good feeling.. COULD TRUST IN JESUS REALLY REMOVE GUILT? Some of us have been raised to feel guilty by demanding parents. It is second nature. Only the new nature of being completely forgiven and accepted by Christ can defeat this inbred guilt. WHAT ABOUT GRUDGES that we hold onto and unwillingness to forgive? Every time we prayer the Lord’s Prayer, we remind ourselves that we can forgive others because we have been forgiven. AH, GREED. Our national pastime. No matter how much money we have; we want more. I believe money and stuff is just a way to feel worthwhile. What gives you real worth? Being a beloved child of God or buying the new Apple iphone? Having eternal value in Christ or the size of your 401k? SLAVERY TO SELF. Jesus claims we can be freed from ourselves. That would be real healing. Listen: “If you hold onto my teaching, you will know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” The truth, of course, is Jesus and His overwhelming love that frees us from ourselves. This includes addiction. Most addictions are fueled by a feel good feeling. We may feel empty inside and we want to feel good. A lot of things promise to fill that emptiness; but only God’s love in Christ can fill us to overflowing. TRUST JESUS. Look to Him. Believe in Him. He wants to heal you in so many ways.
Luke 14.25-33 Today, I will ask two Confirmation students, their families, and all who are hear or read this message to COUNT THE COST of being Jesus’ disciple. Jesus says you must hate those closest to you, even your own life. He says you must carry a cross and follow Him. You must give up everything you have if you want to be Jesus’ disciple. Jesus says, you best sit down and count the cost before you follow Me. So, let’s count the cost of following Jesus? This text makes following Jesus sound difficult if not impossible, doesn’t it? But what if you begin – are CONFIRMED - AND CAN’T FINISH! You will be the object of ridicule. Maybe worse. Let’s do a quick poll. I have been at Mt. Olive a little over 18 years. Let’s say my average Confirmation class was four students. That’s 4 X 18 = 92 students. Let’s say 3/4 of them move away. Still, that is 23 students in our area. So, how many of them are here today? Would you stand? Looks like a lot of Confirmation students did not count the cost. The enemy defeated them with a superior force. They did not stand a chance. LET’S COUNT THE COST. The first words in our text – we can hardly believe our ears. Does Jesus really want us to hate our father and mother, spouse and children, brothers and sisters – yes, even our own life? That is what He says! Why? Can family give you LIFE. No! They can only give you life. Only God in Christ can give you LIFE. But family often takes precedence over Jesus. ANYTHING THAT YOU SUBSTITUTE FOR CHRIST as the source of LIFE, deserves to be hated. What if I say really good family relationships are the source of LIFE? What if I say my accomplishing and acquiring, my abilities and my achieving are the source of LIFE? What if I get all tangled up in the activities and enjoyments of life and believe that lots of activities and enjoyments will give me LIFE? I don’t care if it is school, work, sports, recreation, family, or whatever. Anything that you DO that takes the place of Jesus is Satanic and worthy of being denounced. Now, HOW DO YOU KNOW if something in your life has taken the place of Jesus as the source of your LIFE? Quitting on Christ; giving up on following Him, is not usually a blow-out, but a slow leak. YOU HAVE PLANS ONE SUNDAY. Maybe it is the mountain. Or the Coast. Or your family. Or golf. Or sports. Or grandkids. Or whatever. Then two. Then three in a row. Pretty soon, you come to listen to Jesus and to partake of His Meal once a month or less. Then, pretty soon, the other stuff is more important to you than reading your Bible and learning more about Jesus and the LIFE He so desperately wants to give you. Then church is an afterthought and you come only once or twice a year at the most. Then you know: You are not following Jesus or trusting His love, acceptance, and forgiveness to give you LIFE. You are wrapped up in all that this world offers – which can only give you life – and you miss out on LIFE. THE CROSS I MUST CARRY is this: No matter how great a family I have, no matter how gifted and accomplished I am, no matter how cute or attractive I am, no matter how great a personality I have, no matter whether I am a star athlete or an accomplished worker, no matter how great my retirement is or how busy I am, no matter who I am or what I do; none of this can give me LIFE. Only Christ, His death and resurrection can do that. If I don’t give up on myself as the source of LIFE; I will make a quasi-commitment to Jesus today and, in time, I will not be able to finish. I will go into the battle of life and the enemy will defeat me. No matter how capable or cute I am; I cannot acquire LIFE by my own accomplishing or achieving. The cost of being Jesus’ disciple is simply this: You give up on yourself or anything you do to save you, to give you LIFE. Only Christ – His death and resurrection – can give me LIFE.
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